By Nna Anulumadu
The former governor of Anambra state cum Labour party presidential candidate in 2023 general elections today Thursday, 4th of April 2024 donated the sum of ten million ( N10, 000000) naira to College of Nursing Sciences, St Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha.
Speaking shortly before the donation, Mr Peter Obi described the gesture as part of his sincere support towards the development and sustainability of the college, explaining that the donation covered what he planned to give the college last year but couldn’t do that due to court cases that came up after the presidential elections and there was no time for him to pay the visit. He promised to return to the college with another donation before the year ends since he had made it annual support.
He thanked the proprietor of the college His Grace Most Rev Valerian Okeke the Archbishop of Onitsha for his passion for education and for establishing the college that is today producing quality nurses that are bringing the needed change in our primary health care delivery in our society. He expressed hope that within the next couple of years, the college will move in far greater height. He described the nursing profession as one of the professions the society cannot survive without, charging the students nurses to be more committed and remain focused, positing that their future will be far greater than they can imagine..
Mr Obi further described his annual support to the college as a way of giving back to the society what God has given to him freely, stating that acquiring of wealth or riches is a blessing from God not by our own power. He made it clear that a society can become better if the people are determined to do the needful and assist in any where they can.
Responding, the proprietor of the college His Grace Most Rev Valerian Okeke rained accolades on Mr Peter Obi over the huge support to the college, recalling that the former governor has been supporting the college right from the time the construction of the college began. He described Mr Obi as a humble man who served creditably during his time as the governor.
The prelate disclosed that the college since inception six year ago has recorded excellent performances during external examinations as students use to score hundred percent in their examinations. He also revealed that facilities on the ground and the structures have made the National Board for Technical Education to grant the college the license to award higher national diploma in nursing sciences , apart from the national diploma the college has been awarding before now. He further disclosed that nurses who graduated from the college are doing marvelously well in different parts of the world, a development that justified the reason for the establishment of the college.
He further thanked the coordinator Onitsha Archdiocesan Health services Very Rev Fr Dr. Basil Ekwunife , College administrator Fr Fidelis Nwanze, the school provost Mrs Aniedu Theresa Ita – Obi Odunukwe and the Staff of the college for their various contributions to the growth of the college. Others he appreciated are the college benefactors including Hungarian team led by Dr Reka Phoda for their usual supports.
The vice chancellor of the Archdiocese and coordinator of Onitsha Archdiocesan Health services Fr Ekwunife who spoke to the press eulogized Mr Obi for his donation, describing him as a man of repute who is using his personal resources in developing the Nigerian society that has been paralyzed by corrupt and selfish politicians.
Also the college administrator Fr Nwanze in his contribution poured encomiums on the former governor for demonstrating sincere love to the college describing him as a man of noble character, asserting that his donation will go a long way in developing the college. He thanked the Archbishop for his usual magnanimity to the college which is yielding huge fruits. The college he said is offering young people the opportunity to become nurses who take the profession as a vocation.. He stated that by the latest approval by the National Board of Technical Education, the students of the college stand to graduate with two certificates ( national and higher national diploma ) after four years of study and will also get another certificate known as Registered Nurses ( R N).
He reminded parents and prospective candidates that admission is on going for the new session that will commence early May this year.
The provost of the college Mrs Aniedu Theresa Ita -Obi Odunukwe who added her voice commended the former governor for his benevolence to the college describing him as a man of excellence. She described the college as the best college of nursing sciences in Nigeria where students are being drilled both academically, morally and otherwise for the betterment of the society. ” You cannot answer or practice as a good nurse if sound morals are not inculcated in you and that is what distinguishes our college from others “.
The Chief Executive officer (CEO)St Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital Onitsha Very Rev Dr Izunna Okonkwo also extolled Mr Obi for being a great supporter of the college, positing that by the donation, the erstwhile governor is assisting to make the College the best among equal. Fr Izunna Stated that Mr Obi is greatly supporting the visions of the Archbishop in the various sectors that are transforming our immediate society, adding that his Excellency is passionate about developing the Nigerian society.
